norton



, UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE;

MILLER REESE HUTCHISON AND CHARLES W. NORTON, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TO EDISON STORAGE BATTERY COMPANY; OF XVEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW' JERSEY. I

BATTERY-SUPPORTNG DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

Application filed January 20, 1917. Serial No. 143,493.

` ses county, New Jersey, have invented cer tain new and useful AImprovements in Batter`v-Supporting Devices, ot'- which the follt'nving is a description. v

Our invention relates to battery supporting devices and more particularly to an im proved construction and' arrangement for rigidly supporting and securely holding toze'cther in proper relative position. a group ot' battery cells in a compartment therefor, such for example. as 'the battery tank of a submarine boat: and also to theconibination of such a device and-any number of battery cells -supported thereby. lVhile our improved supportingdevice is designed par; ticularly for use with battery cells of great size and-considerahle weight, such as storage hatterycells of the Edison type designed for submarine service, wherein an alkaline electrolyte is employed and the electrolyte and battery elements are contained in a large metallic receptacle or containingr can, it is to he understood that the saine may be etl'ectively utilized with other types of battei-y cells.

(ine ot the objects of our invention is vto provide such adevice which Ais of great strength and durability and capable of withstanding great shocks and strains. A further ohject ot our invention is to provide an-f improved ti-onstruction whereby the cells vare rigidly held in the supporting device` regardless of the position of the. latter, against all movement with respect thereto and with respect to each other. and whereby the individual cells are spaced and insulated troni and kept out of contact with the body oi the supporting device and each other. and are guarded from contact with other conducting bodies.

()ur invention also consists in a supportin#l device ol simple and improved -construction wherein any desired number of lmt-tery cells may he easily and quickly asscnibled withadequate spaces vt'or ventilation and Acooliirgprovided on all sides of the cells, and whereby short-circuiting of any of the cells by moisture or other'matter, which may be presen-t from any cause, is eftectively prevented.

(.)tliei'objects and 'features of our invention will be hereinafter more fully described .and claimed.

.For a clearer understanding of our invent1on, attention is directed to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure l is a transverse cross-sectional view, partly in elevation, of a supporting device in accordance with our invention, and a plurality of Edison storage battery cells. of the submarine type vsupported thereby;

' Fig. 2 is an enlarged View, similar to Fig. l, showing a single cell and the parts of -the supporting device which eoperatetherewith; and

Fig.. 3 is an enlarged view partly in elevation and partly in section, taken at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 2, and showing a single. cell andthe parts of the suplporting device. which .coperate therewit i. l

Referring to the drawing, reference character 1 represents a battery compartment, preferably the battery tank of a submarine boat, and reference characters 2, 2, 2, 2, Fig. 1, represent the cells in one of a plurality of rows of battery cells extending transversely or athwart-ship of such compartment or tank 1, and also respectively represent cells in four rows of cells extending lengthwisev or fore and aft of said compartmentor tank 1. Cells 2 are shown as Edison storage' battery cells of the submarine type, such as disclosed in the pending application of Charles W. Norton Sg N. 121,939 filed September 25, 1916, and entitled Galvanic batteries; and each .of said cells has a pair of flanged projections 3, spaced in the directionof the lengt-h of the cell. suitably secured to the bottom 2 of its steel container. The bottom 2 of each cell container is provided with a peripheral liangre welded t0 the side walls of the container whereby a depending pettic-oat is formed about said bottom. The projections 3 are preferably secured to the steel cell containers by weldingthe flanged portions largeinents thereof to the bottoms 2 of these containers. The bottom of each ot' the cell containers, including the projections 3, and the vertical walls thereof, except for a small distance at the upper end portion ot' the container, are entirely covered with a coating l of semi-hard rubber permanently vulcanized to the steel surface, so as to better insulate the individual cells from each other and from other bodies and materials. Each ot the cells is firmly supported and insulated at .its bottom by apair of insulators 5, preterably of porcelain,`which engage the bottom of the cell containerA and are provided with recesses 6 articulating with the projections 3, the recesses G being provided with en- '7 at their outer ends for accommodating the flanged portions 3 of the projections 3. Each insulator 5 is provided at the outer edge of its upper end portion with a depending petticoat 8v to shed moisture. Perforated disks 14 of semi-hard rubber and of substantially the same diameter as the body portions of insulators 5 are respectively disposed between such insulators and the bottoms of containers 2, so that 'none of the weight lof the cells will be imposed on the overhaiiging petticoats 8 of such insulators. onsequently the liability of the petticoats 8 becoming broken is practically eliminated. The-bottom portions of insulators 5 respectively articulate with or rest in metallic cup-shaped piecesor members 9 which are suitably secured in proper spaced relation, to wooden strips 1() ruiming lengthwise or fore and'aft of the battery tank 1 and engaging the ends of the latter. The strips 10 are suitably secured to wooden bloc-ks or pieces 11 which rest upon the bottom 12 of the battery tank or compartment. 1. The pieces or strips 10 are firmly maintained in-proper spaced relation by transversely or athwartship extending steel strips or pieces 13, suitably secured to the upper sides thereof, the ends ot these strips 13 en gaging the side walls ofthe compartment or tank 1. A pad or cushion 15, preferably prmed of semi-hard rubber, is preferablyU disposed between each of the insulators 5 and the steel cup-shaped piece 9.

- It will be obvious' that by means of the grille work consisting of the strips or pieces 10 and 13, and the devices cooperating with such grille work, and the cells, the latter are irmly held at their lower end, in proper spaced relation to each other and to the battery tank 1, and are also excellently insulated from the tank and from each other.

The upper end portions 1S of the plates or elements of one polarity in each celhextend through and project. above a suitable. stuliing box 19 secured in the top ot the ,cell container adjacent one end ot' the latter` while the upper end portions 20 of the plat-cs or elements of the opposite polarity in each cell extend through and project above another stufling box 21 in the top ot' the cell container adjacent. the opposite end of the latter, the lugs or portions of the respective groups of lugs or portions 1S and 70 2O of eachl cell, being substantially equispaced and constituting thel poles of such cell. The cells of each ot the rows ot cells extending longitudinally or fore and aft of vthe battery compartment or tank 1 are elec- 75 .tric-ally connected and mechanically spaced by heavy nickel plated copper conducting bars or strips which are inserted between the lugs or portions 18 ot one cell and the lugs or portions 2O ot the adjacent cell and S0 which are suit-ably secured t0 such lugs or portions as by bolts 30. The bars orvconnectors 9:2 are slotted on the lower side, as indicated at 23,' and the pieces or lugs 18 and 20 are slotted at their upper ends, as S5 indicated at 24, to permit the bolts 30 -to be readily applied tothepoles and to permit the connector bars 22 to be readily. applied to and removed lfrom the, poles.. *It is l net necessary in order toproperly electri- .9o cally connect the cells, tliatevery Astrip or bar between the lugs or portions 18 and 2O should extend between cells, and accordingly certain of the spaces between thel adjacent lugs 18 and Q0 are filled with short bars or .5 strips 25 of a length equal to the width of the lugs 18 and 20. The short strips 25 are provided with slots in their lower portions similar to the slots 23 in the bars or strips 2:2.

A in 26, preferably formed of nickel plate malleable iron, is secured-to each pole of each cell by the lower flat rectangularl portion :2.7 thereof, which isv preferably formed integrally therewith and which is in# seited in the space between a pair of adjacent lugs' or portions 18 or 20 of each' cell, in place of one of the shortbars or strips The said flat portion 27 of each pin 2G is provided with slots in its lower side similar to the slots '23 in the .bars or strips 2'2, 110

for the reception of the-bolts 30. The pins 26 are respectively suitably secured to insulating members 2S, preferably formed of porcelain, by cement-ing the saine in centrally disposed openings or recesses formed 1,15

in the lower portion of such members, these recesses being preferablyprovided with enlargements at their lower ends to provide 'seats for collars 31, preferably formed integrally with the pins ZG between the pins proper and the [iat portions "27 thereof. The insulating members 2S areeach provided with .a dependingl pettic-oat 32 and with a beveled upper end portion 33. The bevel of portions 33 iS-such that theiipper ends o1' 12, members '28 will be substantially of the same 4 l diameter as the body portions of these meinbers. Consequently the petticoats 32 of meiii- ,l bers 2S will be relieved ot substantially all strains imposed on the latter by members 34 13l nimmt hereafter described. T he groups of insulating members 28 and the pins 26 attached to the respectiverows of poles extending transversely or zuthwartship of the battery compartment or tank 1, are respectively securely -connected to members or bars 34, preferably formed of wood, which extend transversely or athwartship of said compartment or tank, by the engagement of said members 28 in openings or recesses 35 provided therefor in said wooden members. The recesses 35 are preferably of such size that insulating members 2S are respectively in close engagement with the upper ortions of the sidesfand the bottoms thereoii The lowerv end portions lof recesses 35v `are enlarged as shown atl 35 to provide a space about the petticoats 32 of members 28 in order that members 3 4 will not interfere with the shedding of moisture by said petti'coats.' The ends of the transversely Venten-ding bars or members 34 are firmly secured in any suitable manner to the upper side portions of the compartment or tank 1, lout,'p1"efe1ably by means consisting of longitudinally or ore and aft lextending angle beams 36 suitably secured to the ends of bars 34 and tolongitudinally extending wooden members 37 and longitudinally extending angle 38, which, in turn, are

.suitably secured to members 3T and the upper portions of the side walls of the compartlnent oltank' 1." Each of the bars 341. is preferably reinforced as by means of metal bars39 secured to the sides thereof by screws 40.

The insulating members 28 described and shown herein, form the subject matter of a divisional application Serial No. 308,471 filed July 3, 1919 and entitled Insulators.

' Bythe construction described herein rthe cells are securely held both at the top and bottom against. movement relative to the tank or to each other, regardless of the amount the said battery compartment or tank may be tipped from the vertical. Moreover the proper spacing between the cells themselves and between the cells and the Walls of the battery compartment or tank is permanently maintained, to thereby provide for eti'ective ventilation'and cooling of the entire group of cells in the battery compartment or tank. Each vof the cells is also excellently insulated at all points from the battery compartment or tank and from 'the other cells, dueto the provision of the rubber coating i. the petticoat insulators 5 and 23, and the petticoat at thc bottom of the cell produced by welding thc side ivalls ot' thc latter to thc fiangc ot thc bottom 2. These pctticoats citer-tively shc'd moisture and prcvont thc latter` from creeping and bridging conductivtl parts separated thcrcby. 'l`lic insulating devices dcscribcd hcrcin arc found to bc so cil'cctiic tliatthc insulation ot thc cells from cach other and from thcl battery derstood that many changes may be made in.

the size, form and arrangement of the parts -thereof without departing from the spirit oty the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having now described our invention, what we claim and desire to Patent is as follows 1. The combination with a battery compartment and a plurality of battery cells disposed therein, of means for preventing relative movement of said cells in sai-d compartnient comprising a device fitting closely Within said 'compartment adjacent Athe bottom thereof` and having articulated connection with Said cells, substantially as described.

v 2.'The combination with a battery compartment and a plurality ofrbattery cells ydisposed therein, o means fori preventing relative movement of said .cellls and compartment comprising a frame consisting of members'rigidly secured together and extending longitudinally and transversely of said compartment, said frame fitting closely within said compartment.adjacent the bottom thereof and having articulted connection Awith said cells, substantially as described.

AThe combination with a-battery compartment and a plurality of battery cellsk disposed therein, of means for preventing relative movement. of said cells in said compartment,comprising a device 4tit-ting closely within said compartment adjacent the bottom thereof and having articulated connection with said cells, and members extending across the compartment adjacent `the, top thereof and having articulated connection iviththc tops of said cells, substantially as described.

l. The combination with a battery compartment and a plurality of battery cells disposedl therein, of means for preventing relative movement ot' said cells and compartment comprising a fra-me consisting of membersl rigidly secured together and eX- tending longitudinally and transversely of said compartment, said frame fitting closely Within said con'ipartment adjacent .the bottom ihcreot and having` articulated connection with `said cells. and members extending across the compartnient adjacent the top thcrcot and having articulated connection with thc tops ot' said cells. substantially as described.

5. 'llic combination with a battery compartment and a battery ccll disposed there.- in. ot moans for prcvcnting relative movemcnt oi' said cell and compartment romprising a member extending across and secured protectby Letters to walls of said compartment adjacent the top thereot, said member having articulated connection with the top of said cell, substan- .tially as described.

6. The coiiibinatioii with a battery coinpartiiient and a battery cell disposed therein, of means tor preventing relative movement o f said cell and compartment comprising a member extent .iig across and secured to Walls of said compartment adjacent the top thereof, sai'd member having articulated connection with the top ot said cell. said connection comprising a petticoat insulating niember` substantially as described.

7. The combination ivith a battery coinpartment and a battei \v cell disposed therein, of means foi preventing relative movement of said cell and compartment.comprising a member extending across and secured to ivalls of said compartment adjacent the top thereof, said member having articulated connection with the pole of such cell, said connection comprising a petticcat insulating member secured to said pole and closely engaging an opening provided therefor in said member. substantially as described.

S. The combination with a battery compartinent and a battery cell disposed therein, of means lfor preventing relative movement of said-cell and compartment coinprisinga pair of members extending across and secured to walls of said compartment adjacent the top thereof. said members respectively having articulated connections with the poles ot' such cell. substantially as described.

9. The combination ivith a batterT compartment and a plurality of battery cells disposed therein, of means for'preventing relative movement of said cells in said compartiiient comprising a device fitting closely within said compartment adjacent the bottom thereof and having articulated-connection ivith said cells. and members extending across the compartment adjacent the top tbcreot and havin# articulated connection with the tops of said cells. each of said connections comprising a petticoat insulating member. substantially as described.

10. The combination ivith a' battery compartment and a battery cell disposed therein,

of means for preventing all movement of `with the top and bottom of said cell, substantially as described.

1-1. The combination with a battery compartiiieiit and a battery cell disposed therein, oi means tor preventing all movement of said cell relative to said vcompartment comprising a pair ot devicesl extending transversely o't' and held against movement relative to said compartment,said devices respectively having articulated connection ivit'h the top and bottom of said cell, each of said connections comprising a petticoat member, substantially as described'.

12. The combination with a battery cell having a plurality of pole pieces projecting from the. top thereof, of means for holding said cell'in position Within a container or compartment therefor' comprising a petticoat insulatiiigmeinber' and a member having its lower end secured between tivo such adjacent pole pieces and its upper end secui'ed to said insulating member, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a battery coinpartinent and a battery cell disposed therein, of means for -preventing all movement of the said cell relative to said compartment and having articulated connections with .the

top and bottom of said cell, each of said connections comprising a 'petticoat insulatying member, substantially as described.'

, 14:. lThe combination with a-battery compartment and a battery cell disposed therein, of means for supporting said cell within and spaced from the Walls of said compartment comprising a cuphaped 'member, means for holding said cup-shaped membei', against movement relative to said compartment, and aninsulating member having articulated connection .with said cell and seated in said cup-shaped mem'ber, substantially as described.

15.. The combination with a battery compartment and a battery cell disposed therein, of means for supporting said cell Within and spaced from the Walls of said compartment comprising a cup-shaped member, means for holding said cup-shaped member against movement relative to said compartment, an insulating member connected with said cell and seated in said cup-shaped member, and a cushion between said insulating member and said cup-shaped meinber, substantially as described. p

16. The combination with a battery com- `partment and a plurality of battery cells disposed therein, of means for preventing relative movement of said cells and compartment comprising a frame consisting of members rigidly secured together and eX- tending longitudinally and transversely of saidcompartment, said frame fitting closely within said compartment adjacent the bottom thereof and having articulated connection with said cells, and means for supporting said frame from the bottom of said coinpartnient in spaced relation thereto comprising a plurality of blocks or members mounted on the bottom ot the compartment, substantially as described.

17 The combination of a battery compartment, a plurality of battery cells disposed therein and provided with bottom projections, insulating cushioning material cov- Y. ering said piojections,'aiid means for rigidly supporting said cells in said compartment spaced and insulated trom said compartment and from each other vcomprising a device disposed 4and closely itting .in the compartment adjacent the bottom thereof, and members mounted on said device and respectively having articulated connect-ion with said projections, substantially as described.

18. The combination Wit-h a battery com-- the bottoms of said cellsfand 'a plurality of elements having articulated connections with the tops ,of said cells, said elements extending across the battery compartment adjacent the top thereof and being held against movement relative to the compartment, each of said articulated connections comprising a.

petticoat insulatingl device, substantially as described.

Il). rlhe con'ibinatioii with a battery cell, of means for supporting' the same eomprising an insulating n'iember having a periphoral petticoat portion and a liat member not subst-amially greater in diameter than the body portion ot' the insulating member disposed coiuentricall)T with respect tov the latter between the same and the bottom of the ce i container, substantially as described.

20. ln a battery supporting device, a. member provided with an opcn-ended recess,.and an insulating member having a peripheral petticoat adjacent one endlthereot and so disposed in said recess that said petticoat adjacent the open end of' the latter, the portion of' said recess adjacent its open end being enlarged to provide a space about said petticoat, substantially as described.

Q1. rlfhe combination with a battery compartment and a plurality of battery cells disposed therein, 'of means for preventing relative movement 'ot' said cells in said compartment, comprising a device tting closely Within said compartment adjacent the bottom thereof and connected with said cells, substantially as described.`

'This specification signed. this 19th day of January` 1917.

'B'IILLER' REESE HUTCHISON.

CHARLES lV.' NORTON. 

